Key areas to strengthen this summer.....

So, if you were to put a rank order of 5 key areas in need of strengthening this summer... what would it look like?

For completeness I think we need to include elements behind the scenes such as physio/sports science teams etc

1- Physio/Sports Science (to improve injuries which quite frankly have been utterly atrocious for a while now)
2- Coaching Team - We need some more specialist coaches in, specifically a set piece coach and a European type tactical analyst
3- Striker Pool - We need 2 quality strikers
4- Defensive Pool- With Colo away we need to beef up our defence and for me we need to move on Willo and get 2 class CB's, as well as another LB and RB cover
5- Development Squad- More will be moved on so we need a good half a dozen Carr gems to help feed the first team

The above is, of course assuming we manage to beat the drop.

 

You have moreorless read my mind ACS. I'd like a couple of the younger ones signed to be creative talents. We could maybe do with a young number 10.

 

A young number 10 is a very good shout.

 

I'd also like to see a future captain groomed... like ST was (he went on to captain both club and country at lots of levels)

 

A quality striker, then a decent 3rd choice.

Carroll or Benteke would be good. 3rd choice should be Gouffran. Gouffran is not really a winger remember, he's a striker.

What we really need to do is get a winger or two with pace than can deliver a good ball reasonably consistently.

We don't pose nearly enough of an aerial threat or a wing threat. The fact that we rely on Jonas for crosses into the box is really quite funny.

I hope our team next summer is -

--------Cisse--------Carroll--------

Marv*---Cabaye--Sissoko----Ben Arfa

M'Bengue--Mbiwa--Saylor--Debuchy

----------------Krul---------------


Hopefully we can keep Marv and/or Ben Arfa fit, but we really need another winger.

Also, we need fullbacks that don't need a fully defensive winger like Jonas to be in the squad.

We need fullbacks that can look after themselves so we can play wingers with a proper attacking threat.

We can play good football, but it's a good solid option to be able to play balls long when you cannot pass through a team.

We need a new goal keeper. Harper should be retiring now and become a goalkeeping coach.

Elliot isn't ****. He's put in some good performances, but he doesn't look quite comfortable at this level yet. I know 26 is still young for a keeper, but we cannot be relying on him if Krul is injured.

We should buy a 2nd choice keeper, and send Elliot on Loan to a CC club or sell him.

We need to develop a striking partnership. Cisse up front by himself is ****. He needs a partner that can compliment him. Carroll to Nolan is effective because Nolan gets himself into great positions and can finish well in those little areas.

Cisse can also do this. Cisse gets into fantastic positions and can score those chances in the area.

 

The management

If we manage to beat the drop is important, as I personally don't think we will manage that. I'm just so pessimistic at the moment, everything that Pardew does and say's infuriates me. Our best team in years managed by a disliked clown, and I won't look at our history of managers and just say "Well, once we had him" I'm looking at now, and at the moment, Pardew is showing nothing but broken promises and poor results, not to mention a general lack of tactical footballing knowledge.

I pray to god he is moved on, and if we stay up they bring in either Martinez or Gus Poyet and allow them to build there own coaching team, and then we can play attractive attacking football. Why we ever sacked Hughton, still hurts my head. You wanted stability, you had it right there.

 

Personally (and I know this is not really our way), I'd like the centre half who comes in to be an experienced leader. We lack leadership everywhere, and I'm a big believer in centre halfs being captains. I don't think Saylor has it in him, nor Mbiwa. On Saturday neither had the tactical nous to get out and stop the bombardment. They just sat inviting pressure like sacrificial lambs. Colo wouldn't have allowed that to happen.

 

Agree with all of those. ACS

I'm not getting into the Pardew in/out debate again, so assuming he stays, those areas you've highlighted are all valid.

I'll post my specific thoughts re the playing squad in a mo.

 

OK, other aspects, such as set play coaching, etc will be equally as important. But specifically in terms of the playing squad and what we would need to make improvements next season, here's my take (as ACS says, this is all 'assuming' we stay up - I'm not thinking of the alternative just yet even though it's a possibility).

Contracts expiring this summer:
• Harps
• Simmo
• Dummett
• Newton
We all know the loyal servant Harps won’t be staying on. Probably right in terms of his goalkeeping ability now, but would have loved to see him stay on as a coach. Still, we will be down one experienced ‘keeper. Alnwick looks good for the future, but with Krul’s injury record, we ‘might’ need more GK cover next season.

Simmo would be decent cover at RB and I’d be happy to see him stay to provide back-up - but I won’t be too upset to see him go either. If he does leave, then we have reasonable ‘cover’ for Debuchy at RB in Santon, Perch + Tavernier (Raylor looks like he’ll be out for the season).

Dummett + Newton have both been regulars on loan in the SPL, but there is a big, big step to the EPL. Unless Pards & co see something in them for the future, the likelihood is we will release them.

Players entering their final year next season:
• Perch
• Shola
• Gosling
• Streete
• Richardson
• Inman
Of those, we MUST offer Perch a new contract soon. Along with injured Raylor, he is our most versatile player and we should keep hold of him. We don’t want to get to a point where contract negotiations and the potential thought of leaving become a distraction.

Shola’s legs have been gone for some time so at the end of yet another season I think he’ll be finished. No need to worry about contract talks, just play him as little as possible.

Gosling might as well go now for all I care.

Again, the young lads may well have futures, especially Street, but I suspect that if they’ve not broken into the first team squad next season, then they will go when their current contracts are up.

First Team Squad
Therefore most of our squad – certainly most of the first team players - are all well within contract and so would require pretty hefty transfer fees for anyone to prise them away. So we can assume we either keep the nucleus of the current squad, or at least get a sizeable boost to the transfer kitty if one or more move on. Colo is still very likely to want away, but whether an agreement can be made is another matter.

So, where do we strengthen?
Priorities for me would be:

Striker – a quality striker, or two. We need somebody to compete for places with Cisse (+ Gouffran) and to keep Shola out of the match day squad. Ideally, we have two strikers playing at once, as the recent system of Cisse mainly as a lone striker hasn’t worked. He needs somebody to feed off of.

Centre backs – The pairing of Saylor + MYM hasn’t looked as good as many of us had hoped. Maybe MYM needs more time to settle in, but even Saylor hasn’t looked too assured recently. IF Colo moves we will struggle and need somebody who will be in ahead of Saylor or MYM. We’d also need another back-up as Willo simply cannot be our regular 3rd or 4th choice. One injury or suspension and he’s on the bench waiting to come on.

Left back – we need a quality left back who will be an immediate first team choice. Haidara isn’t ready, but provides decent back-up and a good prospect for the future. Santon is a liability at LB and should either move up the pitch to a more advanced role, or be sold on. Jonas should never, ever, ever be considered as a LB in my opinion. Pards – please listen!

Winger / wide midfielder – with Raylor out for another season, Marv + HBA both injury prone and Jonas just plain useless most of the time, we desperately lack quality service in from out wide.

That’s between 4-6 ‘quality’ players who will genuinely compete for first team places - not just squad players who may or may not get to play. This would mean the likes of Shola, Jonas, Santon, Obertan, Willo, etc struggling to even make the bench. I think we’re OK for choice in the middle with Cabs, Sissoko, Anita, Tiote, Perch, Bigi (+ Marv) all able to play there.

Likelihood
In all reality, I expect we might just buy one good striker and maybe some defensive ‘cover’ if Colo goes. If that is all the club do, then we are in for another difficult season.

 

For a start, sissoko shouldn't be playing so advanced. He is a defensive mid fielder. Playing cabaye too deep is ridiculous as we lose out on so much not havin him in an advanced role. He can pick a pass from no where. Playing deep encourages longer balls and forces him to commit to tackles and lets face it,his tackling isn't that great and he normally gets booked.
We need 2 strikers, that's for sure. I've had it up to the back teeth of watching shola get on the pitch. The man is ****e. If colo goes, we need 2 centre halfs as well.

 

This REP!

 

Likelihood
In all reality, I expect we might just buy one good striker and maybe some defensive ‘cover’ if Colo goes. If that is all the club do, then we are in for another difficult season.
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MA is going to be happy just to stay in the Prem, I think he's made it clear he isn't too bothered about winning anything as long as he's getting full houses at every game.

 

And this! REP!

 

Agree with all comments here and repped everyone on this page - except for 'must spread' before giving to AB again!

 

The manager.

His negative tactical changes have cost us more points than anything else this season.

 

The Manager?

You mean the gormless numpty that has MA's hand up his arse operating his lip movements?

 

To be fair, Pards may actually be a tactical genius, but I'm sure that having MA's hand up there is enough of a distraction to be causing him to forget all sense on match day. i don't think I'd be able to concentrate much on the game, let alone remember who is on the subs bench. I bet the only name he is sure of is Shola, so that's all he can manage to mutter.

 

Couldn't have put it better myself

 

1) the manager / end of chat

2) fitness coach

3) x2 new forwards

4) left back & right back and at least
One top centre back

This is without anyone leaving and no
Potentials for the future we need them ready from day one

 

defense defense defense. The toon have generally had no trouble scoring goals over the years and right now is really no different, we create plenty of chances and cisse just needs a bit more composure. Defensively we've traditionally been ****. Then last season for once we had the meanest defense in the league, and look what happened, 5th place and europe. It makes all the difference. Coloccini will be off, Williamson is gash, I'm awaiting Taylor's next long term injury.